CRICKET.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16946, 30 January 1926, Page 4

CRICKET.

AUSTRALIA’S TOURING TEAM. WARNER Givis HIS VIEWS. INFORMATIVE CRITICISM. (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Australian and N Z. Calde Association.' LONDON, Jan. 28. In a most critical and most informative review of the Australian team, “Plum” Warner, writing exclusively to the Morning Post, declares that he has a suspicion that the selectors have leaned over readily on the oldsters, also that they were! in too great a hurry to select the team. Their policy seems to bear most harshly on the youngesters who have been prominent since 1&21 and ase now passed over. Warner mentions V. Richardson, Pritchard, Rymill, Kippax and Alexander and adds: “Nevertheless, it would be a rash critic who would venture! to say that the selected men do not deserve inclusion in a representative Australian side. Unable to produce a pair of fast bowlers, the Australians have banked on ‘goodies.’ Grimmett will be new to English wickets, and, therefore, the convinced ability of the Australians to win the rubber depends largely on whether Grimmett is successful. lam told Grimmett’s arm is low, though that does not effect efficiency of a googlie bowler, because less ‘air’ makes the ball more difficult. Tt is for the batsmen to jump in to drive. “Whether the Australian bowling turns out successful there is no greater question of its tremendous batting strength. The last four batsmen will probably be Richardson, Gregory, Oldfiedd and Grimmett. Onr bowlers may well ' have sleepless nights wondering how they are going to dislodge them. The batting strength of both sides makes it doubtful whether there will bo a definite result, to the first four matches. There is a strong feeling that four days should be allotted.

Referring to Ponsford and his alleged unsound methods, Warner says this is not borne out bv his brilliant consistency. ‘ “Perhaps Ponsford is one of those) rare batsmen with a touch of genius rising superior to the ordinary rules of orthodqxy. lam disappointed at the non-inclusion of Kippax, whose admirers claim he is a worthy successor to Trnmper.” The article concludes: “J firmlv believe that an English side 1 , wiselv chosen, will face the Australians will every hope. Our top batsmen are equal to the Australians and Tate is the finest bowler in the world. The fielding should* be superior. D. is the Australian tail which may mean England’s undoing, as so often previously.